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AS174

AS 174 - Draft Horse Management I: Driving Principles

Credits

3

Session

Fall

Description

This course introduces students to the systems required to safely manage and work a team of draft horses. Topics include the natural history of Equus caballes, functional anatomy, physiology, and draft horse care methods including both conventional and alternative medical approaches. Following extensive practice with ground driving maneuvers, horses will be hitched to a variety of carts and implements to learn safe hitching and operational procedurals to do farm and forest work. This course is a prerequisite for Draft Horse II: Work Applications.

This course
couples classroom modules with real work experiences using our horses in a
variety of farm and forest settings.
Students must come to class prepared to lead discussions based on a
select group of readings. I expect
students to spend 8-10 hours per week on readings and assignments in order to
gain the most from our time together. A
three-hour driving lab will be scheduled during the first week of class with
every effort made to pair students with similar abilities, experiences, and
goals.

Personal Interest Project

The magnitude
of this course is staggering, I have been a serious teamster for the past 14
years and still find so much to learn.
Quite frankly, we will just scratch the surface over this course and
really, the next two semesters; therefore, I want you to spend a great deal of
this term focusing on some aspect of working animals that really sparks an
interest. The format and assessment
rubric will be provided prior to midterm, beyond that I will grant you a great
deal of latitude in designing your project.
Below, find a list of a few of the past project titles:

The
physics of a wooden evener: which horse is really doing all the work?

Feed
analysis of first cut versus second cut hay.

Nutrition
for performance: matching feed input to work output.

How
to adjust a walking plow: considerations for a clean furrow.

Grandpa’s
team: a story from my childhood.

Working
horses in the woods: equipment for easing the load.

You may wish
to have several products from the PIP, I only require a well- designed and
articulate presentation and your script which will be a 5 to 7 paragraph paper
no more than 800 words.

You will keep
a Driving Journal to document your weekly driving experience and your Mastery
Test outcomes; also, you will keep a Reading Log to help you prepare for
classroom discussions neither of which will be turned in for a grade but all of
which I expect you to use a resource and bring vigor to our class discussions.

Course Disclaimer:

Due to the
dangerous nature of this course, I reserve the right to remove a student from
class if I feel their judgment is impaired.
The day’s driving lab may or may not be made up depending upon the
circumstances. Please consider your
actions and behaviors the night before a driving lab; I recommend a good
night’s sleep, breakfast (and lunch if the lab is in the afternoon), be well hydrated,
and prepare yourself emotionally for the work.

Driving Labs

Driving labs
are the essence of this course; they are why you are here. Laboratory time is your time to spend
actually working with the horses in a real (or simulated) farming or forest
setting. Driving labs are dependent upon
weather conditions and occasionally must be postponed due to inclement
weather. I expect you to come prepared
with a backpack filled with appropriate clothing layers and work gloves. In addition, you are required to bring a
hardhat and wear work boots.

I strive to be
consistent with the learning experiences each of you should have during this
course; however, you each bring varying levels of experience to the table. The agenda for Driving Labs will vary; further,
the weather and the overall health of the horses will play a big role in what
we are able to accomplish. It is
probable that we may have class at my house at least once this term; stay alert
for announcements either during class or through the white board at the
entrance to the dining hall. I ask that
you stay in continuous communication with me so that I can meet your learning
objectives to the best of my ability.